Maronite Patriarch Bechara al-Rai reiterated calls for a special international conference on Lebanon to address the many persisting problems gripping the country.
Speaking at the launch of a conference entitled “A new vision for Lebanon: a civil, decentralized and neutral State” and held in Bkerke on Wednesday, July 5, Rai said, “Lebanese leaders are unable to hold a dialogue because their personal interests take precedence over public interests.”
“If the Lebanese cannot sit around a table to discuss contentious issues, what would they discuss then?” he asked, adding that “there can be no dialogue without deep reflection on its principles,” and that “the lack of interest on the part of those in charge is due to the absence of a President.”
